"Italicized" = Signed

"Regular" = Spoken

Italicized = Yō typing

= Someone else typing

----- = A spoken word Yō can't understand (or at least not lip read)

Any descriptions of signs are based on ASL as I know a little of it seeing as I'm half-deaf.

...

Yō's POV:

I woke to my bed vibrating. I sighed and sat up, turning off the alarm. I glanced at the calendar hanging on my wall. I didn't want to believe it, but I knew what I was seeing was true.

Today was the first day of high school. The first day of three long years of torture and being an outcast, and dare I say ostracized perhaps.

I wasn't ready in the smallest amount. I would never be ready. This would be my first time being mainstreamed. I hadn't been in a public school before. I was really scared. Scratch that: I was terrified.

I had read stories online about how people like me have been treated by students. But I hoped that wasn't the case. I was told by the school that that behavior wouldn't be tolerated.

I don't really believe them, though. It'd be easier to get me in trouble and expel me than to do that to a normal student. Why help the one that'll always be targeted instead of just get rid of them? That's the logic most of the stories I read had.

I saw my door open in the corner of my eye and turned to look. My mom stood in the frame and waved at me.

"Go get ready, I'll make you some breakfast," Mom told me.

I nodded and got off my bed. Mom left me to go to the kitchen I guess. I grabbed my school uniform and stared at it. I still can't believe it's real.

I slowly and unwillingly undressed and changed. After I was done, I stared at myself in my mirror, nitpicking every flaw I saw. I didn't have the highest self-esteem either, which made this all worse. If anyone went after my image, I don't know how I'd react. After I worried a bit more, I went to the kitchen. My mom was just finishing up making breakfast.

We sat down and ate in silence. Well, I was always in silence. I'm profoundly deaf after all.

It felt weird eating with just us two, but dad was off sailing again. He was hardly ever home. I miss him a lot. The worst part is that he said this trick* will be a long one.

Before I knew it I had to get going. I waved goodbye to my mom and grabbed my shoes. I put them on and grabbed my bag. My mom tapped my shoulder. I looked at her. That was the signal that told me to pay attention as she needed to say something to me.

"Good luck," She told me.

I pouted at her and then I left the house. I hated this already and I wasn't even out of my driveway yet. I wish I could've stayed in a deaf-only school. But we didn't have enough money for it because of how bad the weather has been on all boating jobs. So now I'm in a regular high school for probably the rest of my years in high school. And I'm the only deaf one as well. That makes everything worse. No one in this school will understand me and my struggles now.

...

I got to school on time, as I had always done in my previous school, and quickly went to my classroom. I had studied my schedule many times before school had started first the year, hoping to know it by heart for my first day so I could quickly leave the classrooms without hesitation. I took a seat at the back in the corner. I wouldn't be able to hear the teacher anyway so it didn't matter where I sat, especially since she was letting us choose our own seats.

Before long other students filed into the room and started getting into their friend groups. I watched as they spoke to each other. I could understand a little of what some were saying, but reading lips is hard. Especially when they aren't looking at me.

The only reason I can even read lips as well as I can is because my grandparents hated that I was deaf. They treated it like I had a horrid disease. They forced me to speak and read lips to communicate with them or else they would ignore me. We cut them off after I turned 8. I haven't seen them since. And I'm glad about it. To say I hated them would be an understatement.

"Hello!" A hyper orange-haired girl walked over to stand in front of me.

I stared up at her blankly. I really don't want to waste my time talking to her. She'll probably leave me alone once she finds out I'm deaf anyway. Why would anyone put in the effort unless necessary?

"Hey, aren't you gonna reply? Don't you like me?" The girl pestered me.

I glared at her, "Leave me alone."

A lot of students looked at me. They started laughing at me. I looked at them with an unamused expression on my face. I won't give them the pleasure of getting a reaction. I've learned that's how to get rid of people like them effectively.

"She sounds so stupid speaking!"

"Where's that accent from?"

I just sat there, unlike what I knew they wished to happen. I know they want to get a ride out of me. But I'm smarter than that.

I really hated speaking for this reason. My voice sounds weird to people. I can't hear what I sound like so I can't fix it. And voice therapy is not an option because of the abuse I suffered from my grandparents.

The teacher walked in. All the kids took their seats. The annoying girl sat next to me, much to my displeasure.

I stared blankly ahead as the teacher spoke. I could care less about school right now. I just want this to end.

"Alright kids, let's do a little game. Try to introduce yourself in a foreign language." The teacher said.

I smirked slightly. Easy peasy for me.

Everyone took their turns. When it got to mine, I stood up and looked at everyone.

"Hello. My name is Yō. Nice to meet you, not. I hate you all." I knew they wouldn't understand my signing so I felt safe to add that.

Everyone stared at me. Some in awe, others in confusion.

"What? Never seen a deaf person before?" I mocked them.

"What language is that?" Some kid asked, her face showing she wasn't happy.

"Sign language." I responded.

I wasn't getting into how each sign language is different so I left it at that.

Some kids started whispering. I couldn't see their mouths so I didn't know what they were saying. I sat down and ignored them.

...

After class ended for lunch, that girl came back to me. I groaned internally as she started speaking to me again.

"Wow, I didn't know you knew sign language. That's awesome!" She spoke pretty fast. I could barely understand her.

I pulled out my phone and typed on it, before handing it to her.

I'm deaf. That's my native language.

The girl went wide eyed, before she typed something on my phone and gave it back to me.

Oh boy. She actually wants to talk with me. Lovely...

My name is Yō. Are you going to continue to talk to me?

I mentally sighed. Great. Now I have to deal with her.

Then you better learn sign language. I'm not doing this every time you want to talk. I can lip read but you have to talk normally. You talk too fast.

"Could you teach me?" Chika asked out loud, before realizing her mistake.

"I guess." I replied.

Chika smiled, "Do you want to eat lunch with me?"

I knocked my fist in the air, "Yes. That means 'yes' by the way."

I only agreed because I don't want to deal with the other kids. Maybe they'll leave me alone if I'm around this girl?

We headed out to the courtyard and sat down. We pulled out our lunches and started eating. Chika would occasionally type something on her phone and show me. I'd answer her on mine.

I enjoyed it. She wasn't treating me any differently than the other students. I really thought I'd have issues with everyone in the school.

Chika stopped typing her message and looked up. I followed her gaze and was met with someone I didn't know standing before me.

"Watanabe-san, come with me." The black-haired girl ordered.

I put my stuff away and followed her. We walked through the school. I noticed she'd try and talk to me, but she wasn't facing me. I couldn't help but not reply.

"Would you answer me already!?" She spun around and yelled.

"I didn't hear you." I stated.

"You're deaf, aren't you?" She glared at me with an accusing look.

"So what if I am?" I challenged.

"Follow me." She ordered again.

Soon we made it to a door. It was the principal's office. We walked in and sat in front of the woman behind a desk. I assume she's the principal.

"So, Ms. Watanabe, I've had some students coming in saying you were signing in class. Is this true?" The principal asked.

I nodded.

"And what did you sign?"

I reenacted my introduction, making it nicer, but voiced over my movements.

"Please refrain from signing around school. It makes the other kids uncomfortable."

I stared at her, dumbfounded. She expected me to do that because the students feel "uncomfortable"? What a joke.

"You may leave. -------- -san, escort her back."

"I'm deaf not blind! I can get back myself!" I defended.

"She is taking you back." The principal repeated.

I sighed and stood up, "Let's go then."

We walked out, me leading. The girl beside me seemed equally as pissed as I was.

I pulled out my phone and typed something, before tapping her on the shoulder and showing it to her.

What's gotten you pissed?

The girl blinked at me, confused.

You looked mad.

She sighed and pulled out her phone.

I nodded in agreement.

She thinks I won't sign. She's really out of it.

Make it both of us. By the way, what's your name and why'd you get sent to fetch me exactly?

I hope you'll be better than her.

Okay, thanks.

With that, we parted ways. I think she's okay. That girl isn't as bad as I originally thought. I guess she was snappy because this wasn't supposed to be her job.

...